State health officials are soliciting comments from individuals regarding the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).

Input is needed for the State Plan of program operations for the 2005 fiscal year. These comments must be received before July 31, 2004.

WIC is a federally funded nutrition education and supplemental food program for low income pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women, infants, and children up to 5 years of age. Eligibility is determined by nutritional risk and incomes that fall below 185 percent of the poverty level. There are approximately 90,800 Oklahomans participating in the WIC Program each month.

A priority for the program is to make sure pregnant women understand the importance of adequate nutrition throughout their pregnancy, and that mothers with young children have the basic nutritional knowledge necessary to assure their children’s proper nutrition intake.